The American Psychological Association (“APA”) defines resilience as the process of adapting well in the face of adversity, trauma, tragedy, threats or significant sources of stress; it involves “bouncing back” and personal growth from these experiences (APA, Feb. 20, 2020).” Resilience can be developed and lead to a better quality of life, stronger focus, composure under stress, better memory, and more impactful leadership.[1] The choice is yours. With practice, you can develop deeper resilience and show up as the morale-boosting, skillful leader you want and need to be, or instead, you can bow to the hardship, to your fear of making mistakes, and hold on tightly to hope that the problems will all just go away.
There will be Pain
If you are alive, there will be pain and suffering. Resilience will not shield you from pain but will reduce the depth and duration of the suffering. In fact, it is impossible to truly know how resilient you are unless circumstances provide you the “opportunity” to struggle and suffer for your values, or for your own (or the organization’s) survival. Peril is everywhere; are you ready? Consider the following five mindsets to help you navigate disruption and build resilience.
Earth: Get Grounded
You have to be grounded to bend with or remain resolute in the presence of risk and ambiguity. “Every frightening event, no matter how negative it might seem from the sidelines, has the potential to be traumatic or not to the person experiencing it. The experience isn’t inherent in the event.”[2] It resides in how each person perceives and construes its impact.
Imagine a German Shepherd barking and running directly toward two people, one is a dog lover and the other is not an ‘animal person.’ Given that not every person (leader or team) will perceive a threat from an identical challenge, it follows that there must be an opportunity for choice after the stimulus and before the response. The moment may be fleeting, but in that microsecond, there is freedom to choose how to respond. You may not be able to choose your first reaction, but it is possible to develop the ability to deescalate, to become aware of available options, and to make an intentional choice about what to do next. The resilient person will choose their role to play and the attitude with which to approach what is happening.[3] When self-awareness and situational awareness[4] replace impulsivity or habit, better decisions are made. When you are grounded in your values and strengths, you can confidently open your mind to assess options, opportunities, and include others’ opinions.
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